President Aquino, who is in Myanmar for the 24th
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, participated in the
interface meeting with the representatives of AIPA on Sunday.

“In the face of changing circumstances in our
region, we are called to greater cooperation, as we work even harder to ensure
the well-being of our citizenry,” the President said in his intervention at the
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

The President said AIPA provides a unique
opportunity for ASEAN member states to address the emerging concerns of
Southeast Asia, such as climate change, pandemics and transnational crime, or
upholding the rule of law.

“AIPA serves as a meaningful venue to develop
legislation that may contribute significantly to enhancing the capacities of
our respective nations in this regard,” he said.

Thus, President Aquino expressed his support to
the assembly’s proposal to harmonize the legal frameworks among ASEAN
countries.

“Our ability, however, to craft domestic laws
that are in line with the agreements and commitments of ASEAN must be done
within the context of our respective constitutional systems and should consider
the rights and responsibilities of the component branches of our governments,”
he said.

President Aquino also emphasized the promotion
and protection of the rights of migrant workers, of women and children, and of
other vulnerable sectors in the respective societies.

“This should be of the highest priority, for an
injustice done to one is an injustice done to all—whether it be from the
country of origin or in the country where our migrants happen to be,” he said.

The President also noted that the deeper
engagement and solidarity between AIPA and ASEAN is crucial in realizing the
shared vision of a region that is more harmonious, inclsuive, and equitably
progressive.

Founded in 1967, the ASEAN community includes
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. PND (co)

Aquino encourages the youth to actively pursue
an inclusive ASEAN community

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S.
Aquino III on Sunday encouraged the delegates of the ASEAN Youth to actively
partner with their fellow youth leaders and the leaders of their respective
countries in pursuing an inclusive ASEAN Community.

President Aquino issued the statement during his
attendance to the 24th ASEAN Leaders’ meeting with representatives of the ASEAN
Youth held at the Myanmar International Convention Center here in Nay Pyi Taw,
Myanmar’s capital.

“In keeping with the agenda for the formation of
an inclusive ASEAN Community, I encourage our youth representatives this
afternoon to actively partner with your fellow youth leaders and the leaders in
your respective countries,” the President said in his intervention during the
ASEAN Youth Forum.

“Even as our various governments are working to
leave you a better tomorrow, perhaps you can remain active among your spheres,
promoting in your sector an appreciation for the need for individual integrity,
responsibility, and solidarity with your countrymen and neighbors,” he added.

In his intervention, President Aquino
highlighted some of the programs the Philippine government has initiated to
empower the youth sector, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and the K
to 12 Basic Education Program.

Under the CCT program, President Aquino said,
the beneficiary-families get cash stipends provided that their children are
sent to school and are receiving basic health care.

The government, President Aquino said, has also
reformed the basic education system by expanding it to K to 12, which adds two
more years to the existing 10-year basic education curriculum.

In addition, President Aquino said the
government has addressed the backlog in the education sector to ensure “every
Filipino student can go to school and expect to be placed in a sufficiently
sized classroom, with all the materials they need to succeed.”

The President said the 66,800-classroom backlog
has already been eliminated, as well as the backlogs in books and chairs.

“We have likewise improved the quality of higher
education both by insisting on improved standards, which are the bases for
greater budgetary support, and by empowering these institutions to maximize
their own resources to generate income,” he said.

President Aquino said the government has
improved the capacities and performance of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) to provide Filipino youth a full array of
vocational courses.

The President cited that from October 2012 to
December last year, 91 percent of TESDA graduates in the field of
semiconductors and electronics easily found employment.

“Indeed, just as this word—empowerment—applies
to institutions, it also applies to the individual. A healthier, more educated
youth is an increasingly empowered youth, able to discern for itself, and to
maximize their potential, as well as the potential of the country,” he said.

“Our overarching goal is to leave no one behind.
Our message to the people: Regardless of the track you wish to pursue, the
state will be by your side. I believe this is the key to fully empower the
youth: fostering a culture of cooperation and individual responsibility; of
partnership and a continual search for improvements,” he added.

President Aquino said the youth could also make a
difference in the region. “There are many things you can undertake right now
that can help deepen the relationships between our countries, and between your
respective governments and citizenries,” he said.

As techonology is rapidly changing and expanding,
the President challenged the youth sectors to use information technology as a
tool of empowerment.

“Information and communications technology is
growing at a rapid pace—and we all know that the youth enjoy a natural affinity
with these technologies. This is one of our era’s great challenges to the
younger generation: to be able to harness the developments in technology to
make a positive impact on the world around you,” he said.

“Increased avenues for knowledge and
self-expression naturally come with increased accountability. We must be able
to use these technologies responsibly and judiciously— careful of scattering
wrong or misleading information that will have negative results,” he said.

Besides the meeting with the ASEAN Youth,
President Aquino also attended Sunday the meetings with the representatives of
the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and the Civil Society Organizations.
PND (co)

Aquino, other leaders adopt Nay Pyi Taw Declaration
on Realization of ASEAN Community by 2015

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) The 24th Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit concluded on Sunday with the adoption of
the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on the Realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015.

In the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration, President
Benigno S. Aquino III and his fellow leaders expressed their common adherence
to the purposes and principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and in upholding
the Charter of the United Nations.

Aside from welcoming the progress made in
implementing the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community, the leaders also recognized
the urgency of the successful establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015.

The ASEAN member-countries also commended the
efforts of the ASEAN in formulating the ASEAN Community’s post-2015 vision.

The leaders committed to further strengthen
efforts to enhance ASEAN integration and narrow the development gap by building
on existing initiatives including the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and the
Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

Moreover, the leaders reaffirmed their
commitment to work closely with all partners through various ASEAN-led
processes, such as ASEAN Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, ASEAN
Regional Forum, and ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus.

Furthermore, they stressed the importance of
cooperation among ASEAN countries and the realization of an ASEAN Community
that is politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible.

The ASEAN Summit was held for the first time in
Myanmar with the theme: "Moving Forward in Unity to A Peaceful and
Prosperous Community," highlighting the importance of a united ASEAN. PND
(co)

ASEAN leaders agree to strengthen cooperation
for full implementation of Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in South China
Sea

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) Leaders of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pledged on Sunday to enhance
cooperation for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of
Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) at the end of the two-day summit.

The ASEAN leaders, including President Benigno
S. Aquino III, concluded the 24th ASEAN Summit by adopting the Nay Pyi Taw
Declaration on Realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015 issued Sunday
afternoon.

The leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation for
the full and effective implementation of the DOC in accordance with universally
recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

They also called on all parties to “exercise
self-restraint and non-use of force, as well as refrain from taking actions
that would further escalate tension and to work towards an early conclusion of
the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as reflected in the ASEAN’s
Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea.”

On Saturday, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued
a statement expressing serious concern over the ongoing developments in the
South China Sea, which have increased tensions in the area.

They urged all parties concerned to exercise
self-restraint and to resolve disputes by peaceful means and without resorting
to threats or use of force. They also called on all parties to undertake full
and effective implementation of the DOC.

"Moving Forward in Unity to A Peaceful and
Prosperous Community" was the theme of this year’s summit. Myanmar hosted
the ASEAN Summit for the first time since it joined the bloc in 1997. PND (co)

Aquino, other leaders vow to enhance ASEAN unity
and solidarity

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S.
Aquino III and other leaders agreed to strengthen ASEAN unity and solidarity,
as well as ASEAN’s central role in maintaining and promoting peace, stability,
harmony, and prosperity in the region.

At the conclusion of the 24th Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Sunday, the leaders adopted the Nay
Pyi Taw Declaration on Realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015.

This year’s summit was themed, “Moving Forward
in Unity to A Peaceful and Prosperous Community."

Under the declaration, the leaders committed to
further enhance ASEAN cooperation in promoting democracy, good governance and
the rule of law, and the promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms.

ASEAN agreed to promote the sharing of norms,
principles and values as enshrined in the ASEAN instruments including the ASEAN
Charter and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea
for peace, stability and development in the region.

Also, the leaders will explore the possibility
for a regional framework based on the principles contained in the Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and in line with the Bali Principles on
Mutually Beneficial Relations.

Moreover, the Southeast Asian leaders also
pledged to further promote ASEAN’s efforts in peace and reconciliation in the
region through mechanisms and entities associated with ASEAN.

The ASEAN also agreed to work closely with the
Nuclear Weapon States on the early signing and ratification of the Protocol to
the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone without reservations
by Nuclear Weapon States.

The Chief Executive also noted that all foreign
ministers of the ASEAN member countries signed a joint statement expressing
apprehension over what might happen as a result of the tension in the South
China Sea.

He said the ministers called for respect and
adherence to the principle of Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the disputed
sea.

President Aquino also said he took the
opportunity to “present to our ASEAN neighbors” the Philippine Memorial that
was submitted to the arbitral tribunal of the United Nations regarding the
Philippine claim over some islands in the West Philippine Sea, which is also
claimed by China.

He further reported that the Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia and the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) have
concretized their inter-connectivity.

President Aquino invites BIMP-EAGA members to
join trade fair and business conference in Mindanao

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S.
Aquino III on Sunday invited Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia to send
delegations to the trade fair and business conference in Mindanao this October.

President Aquino issued the invitation during
the 10th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth
Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit on the sidelines of the 24th Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here.

The 2nd BIMP-EAGA and Indonesia Malaysia
Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Trade Fair and Business Leaders’ Conference
is slated to be held on October 23 to 26, 2014 in Davao City.

The trade fair and conference will gather key
business players from the two economic sub-regions with the objective of
contributing to the goals of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community.

“I take this opportunity to urge
member-countries to send their delegations to the 2nd BIMP-EAGA IMT-GT Trade
Fair and Business Leaders Conference, and to help generate participation from
other countries outside the sub-region,” President Aquino said in his remarks.

The President said the trade fair will showcase
trade and industrial opportunities in the food, agri-based, fisheries,
handicraft, and tourism sectors, particularly those involving small and medium
enterprises.

“This conference is especially promising, as we
foresee positive transformation in our island of Mindanao, now that the
Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro has been signed,” he added.

President Aquino also lauded the establishment
of new air linkages with BIMP-EAGA partner countries.

“We emphasize the importance of sustaining these
routes through the joint efforts of the air transport and tourism officials by
means of incentives, policy support measures, and extensive marketing and
promotions,” he said.

“We commend the efforts of the Chambers of
Commerce of Davao, General Santos, and North Sulawesi for establishing shipping
services within the sub-region. Now, work on making the
Davao-GenSan-Tahuna-Bitung sea route operational is underway,” he added.

President Aquino, along with the Philippine
delegation, returned to Manila early Monday following his successful
participation in the 24th ASEAN Summit hosted by Myanmar from May 10 to 11. PND
(co)

ASEAN vows to expedite roadmap for ASEAN
community

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) The Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will expedite the implementation of the
remaining action lines under the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community through
concrete programs and activities.

This commitment was contained on the 28-point
Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on Realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015, adopted
by Southeast Asian leaders, including President Aquino, at the conclusion of
the 24th ASEAN Summit.

Under the declaration, the leaders also agreed
to intensify efforts in realizing the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 and
implement the initiatives to achieve the ASEAN Single Market and Production
Base, including trade facilitative initiatives.

The ASEAN member states also pledged to
accelerate efforts in enhancing regional connectivity through the
implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

They committed to strengthen its external
economic integration to advance its collective interest in the region through
the ongoing ASEAN Plus One Free Trade Agreements with partners, and the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The ASEAN will also promote the sense of
belonging to the ASEAN Community through the formulation and implementation of
the ASEAN Communication Master Plan, according to the adopted declaration.

Meanwhile, the leaders pledged to enhance
efforts to empower women, youth, children, persons with disabilities, and other
vulnerable groups by encouraging their active participation in the ASEAN
community-building process.

They also agreed to strengthen and empower the
existing ASEAN mechanisms and mutli-sectoral actions to improve prevention,
preparedness, response, relief, and recovery on disasters in a more coordinated
manner.

The declaration further noted that the ASEAN
members will "strengthen the environmental resilience and adaptive
capacity to climate change of the ASEAN Community by effectively implementing
the ASEAN Climate Change Initiative and the ASEAN Action Plan on Joint Response
to Climate Change.”

Leaders of member countries of the ASEAN on
Saturday gathered at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar’s capital, for the two-day summit. It
was the first time for Myanmar to host the summit, since it joined the ASEAN 17
years ago.

Myanmar, as ASEAN chair, chose the theme “Moving
Forward in Unity to A Peaceful and Prosperous Community" to highlight the
importance of a united ASEAN. PND (co)

In an interview with the Philippine media after
he attended the 24th Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Summit here
Sunday, President Aquino said the government panel had made sure that the
provisions of the EDCA are in accordance with the Constitution.

"Consistently, when they were reporting to
me, we kept on working on fine-tuning it to make sure that it adheres
completely with the Constitution," the President said during the interview
at the Horizon Lake View Resort before returning to Manila.

He said that while there are people who will
derail the implementation of the agreement, he is still optimistic that it will
pass the court's scrutiny.

"So will it stand scrutiny? Yes. Will there
be people who will try to derail it? Yes, also. But we are reasonably confident
that anybody looking at it objectively will be able to say that we have met all
the stipulations in the Constitution," he said.

The EDCA was signed by Philippine and US
government officials hours before US President Barack Obama arrived in the
Philippines last May 28 for a two-day state visit.

The agreement allows US troops greater access to
designated Philippine military facilities, as well as construct facilities and
pre-position aircraft, vessels and equipment.

In a recent press briefing in Malacanang,
Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said the EDCA is an implementing
agreement of treaties already established between the US and the Philippines,
such as the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement. PND (jb)

President Aquino unfazed by dismissal of graft
case against Arroyo

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S.
Aquino III said he is confident that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
will be brought to justice despite the Ombudsman's dismissal of a graft case
filed against her in connection with a P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

In an interview with the media here following
his attendance of the 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Summit on Sunday, President Aquino said the case filed against the Pampanga
representative that was dismissed by the Ombudsman due to lack of evidence, was
not filed by his administration.

"We discussed it in passing the other day.
First question I asked was: 'Did we file this?’ And the answer was: ‘We didn't
file it,’” President Aquino said during his interview held at the Horizon Lake
View Resort.

The President said if the government gets the
necessary evidence to make a stronger case, then the graft case can be filed
again.

President Aquino stressed that his government
has always believed in building strong cases that would lead to conviction.

"My promise to the Filipino people has
always been: We will go where the evidence points us to. We will not file a
frivolous case just to harass anybody,” he said.

"If you file a frivolous case, knowing that
it's frivolous, hindi ba parang you are guaranteeing that the person gets off
scot-free because double jeopardy comes in. So my instruction has always been:
Do not file until you are sure that the evidence is strong,” he added.

President Aquino cited three cases filed by the
Aquino administration against Mrs. Arroyo: a plunder case in connection with
the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds, which is
pending before the Sandiganbayan; another plunder case for Arroyo’s alleged
involvement in the Malampaya fund scam, which is being reviewed by the Office
of the Ombudsman; and the electoral sabotage case, which is pending before a
Regional Trial Court in Pasay filed by the Commission on Elections law
department. PND (jb)

President Aquino informs ASEAN member states of
memorial filed against China

(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S.
Aquino III has informed leaders of member nations of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that the Philippines has filed a Memorial at
the United Nations arbitral tribunal against China’s claims over the West
Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The Philippines on March 30 submitted its
Memorial to the Arbitral Tribunal that is hearing the case it brought against
the People’s Republic of China under the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea in January 2013.

During the coffee meeting with the members of
the Philippine media covering the 24th ASEAN Summit here Sunday, President
Aquino said many of the ASEAN leaders have expressed concern over the ongoing
tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

The President said the Prime Minister of
Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung, recounted their problems with China, which has
stationed an oil rig in disputed waters off the coast of Vietnam.

President Aquino said he mentioned to his fellow
ASEAN leaders the Philippines’ own incidents with China during the 24th ASEAN
Leaders’ Retreat Session.

“I put in, during the Retreat, our own incidents
with regards to Ayungin, Scarborough, the Kalayaan Island group, the
construction on Mabini Reef and the Galoc oil contract—service contract area,”
the President said.

“Then we did mention that consistent with
everybody’s desire to resolve it in a peaceful manner, we did inform them
officially of the March filing of the memorial before the arbitration tribunal
under International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea,” he added.

On Saturday, the ASEAN foreign ministers issued
a statement expressing “serious concern over the ongoing developments in the
South China Sea,” and urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and to
resolve disputes by peaceful means.

They also called on all parties to the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to undertake full
and effective implementation of the DOC to create an environment of mutual
trust and confidence. PND (co)

Government working to reduce number of poor
Filipinos: Palace

Malacanang said the government is working to
reduce the number of poor people in the country, which a recent Social Weather
Stations (SWS) survey estimated at 17.8 percent or 3.9 million families.

Coloma noted that figures from the Philippine
Statistics Authority, National Statistics Office, and National Economic
Development Authority show that the incidence of poverty in the country has
decreased to 24.9 percent in 2013 from 27.9 percent previously.

He further said that even the SWS surveys show a
decline in poverty.

An SWS survey done in December 2013, showed that
18.1 percent of respondents were suffering from hunger. The figure decreased to
17.8 percent, or 3.9 million Filipino families, in the recent survey, which was
conducted last March 27 to 30.